Dumping-vehicle.



J. T. GILMAN.

DUMPING VEHICLE.

APPLIUATION FILED AUG,23,1912

Patented July 1, 1913.

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ATTORNEY J. T. GILMAN.

DUMPING VEHICLE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.23,1912.

Patented July 1, 1913.

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A v. m M N M H/ "H W A J. T. GILMAN.

DUMPING VEHICLE.

APPLICATION IILED AUG. 23, 1912.

Patented July 1, 1913.

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INVENTOR ATTORNEYS WITNESSES J. T. GILMAN.

DUMPING VEHICLE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.28,1912.

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Patented July 1 5 SHEETS- Ira/Ewan M T WITNESSES ATTDIINEY J. T. GILMAN.

DUMPING VEHICLE.

INVENTOR 5 SHEETB-BHEET 6.

Patented July 1, 1913.

WITNESSES ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT 1 OFFICE.

JOSEPH T. GILMAN, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

DUMP-ING-VEHICLE.

specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 23, 1912. Serial No. 716,574.

simple and effective reorganization of the detent mechanism for the center dumping valves; also the dispositionand combination therewith 'ofimproved opcratii lg means at the end of the car for actuating the detents; also improved means whereby the same inst rumentalities by which the valves are released may be employed for replacing them in closed position, as well as other combinations and sub-combinations of various parts, as will be pointed out in'the claims.

. In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of a car embodying the invention, part of its length being broken away; Fig. 2 is an end elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a partial plan view; Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section through the car; Fig. 5 is'a plan view of the detent-operating mechanism located on the platform outside the end bulk-head of the car; Fig. (3 is a section on the line (3 43 of Fig. 2; and Figs. 7 and 8 are detail views showing a detent and its operating link connection in valvesupportiug and in released position.

As is Well understood the framework of the car comprises a center sill structure 10, nd and intermediate bulkheads ll, 12, mounted thereon, and side girders l3 supported by the'bulkhcads. The invention is also applicable to marine conveyances or even stationary bins, and in such cases, of course, the center sill structure will be counterpart and equivalent. to any main supportfor the receptacle of the apparatus. In the car illustrated, the end bulkheads are strengthened on their outer sides by angle reinforcements fixed rigidly to the end of the centersill and to the outer face of the bulkhead, the same comprising two upright spaced plates or stanchions 14 of suitable construction. The side dumping valves or dropdoors 15 are double-hingedto the side girders by means of the links 16 and the center or longitudinal shaft 18, the latter being carried by saddle frames 19 spaced at suit-able intervals along the base support or centersill. These center valves are adapted to' engage the free inner edges of the side valves 15 to hold them in the closedcondition shown at the left ofFig. t. Dropping of the detent valves at either or both sides perto swing downward and outward, as shown at the right of Fig. 4, all as is well understood in the art.

ported in their raised or closed positions by movable dctents or thrust members 20, which when erect receive the thrustof bearing rollers 21 carried by ihe strut of said valves. In Goodwinjcar construction these tilt-able detents have heretofore been mounted on longitudinalyalveu'eleas ing shafts, the rocking of which from the end of the car moved thedetents outward from beneath the bearing members or rollers 21 of the strut frames so as to permit the latter and the valve to drop, and as acousequence of the severe load often imposed on the valves these longitudinal rock-shafts were apt to become distorted, which of course rendered them diflicultto operate.

In the present invention the detents and their controlling means or rock-shafts are so related that the latter are free of the load on the detents, and. the detents are mounted so as to transmit the load directly to theccnter sill, this being a principle of the new construction which is susceptible of embodiments in various forms. In the parti'cular construction shown in Figs. 4, (S, 7 and 8 such detents are individually and pivotally supported on the center sillby means of short trunnions 23 journaled in the strap brackets 24, the latter being riveted or otherwise permanently fixed to the upper sides of the sills, or to special bearing, plates fastened thereon. The rockshafts 25, by which these detents are operated, ale located at their outer sides and extend the length'of the car through the end bulkh 21(15, where their ends are jourforms J7. The shafts are connected to the detents by means of connections, each of Patented July 1,1913.

mits the corresponding side valve or valves naled in brackets 2(1 on the operating plat detent valves 17 are pivoted on a central The center or detent valves 17 are sup frames'22 which are fixed to the under side which includes a crank arm 28 fixed to the rock shaft and a link 29 pivoted to such arm' and to the upper part of the detent, the said links 29 bein preferably bifurcated so as to straddle t e detents, and having a flat blade portion 30 which is received between corresponding bifurcations of the crank arm 28. These arms are conveniently formed on a collar 31 which is pinned to the shaft as indicated in the drawing, and the arrangement of the links and cranks is ;-such that with the detents in normal or valve supporting position the crank will be in line with the link or carried slightly past center, in which position the locking shoulders 33 of the link 29 will abut solidly against the ends of the crank arms 28, thus forming a knuckle or knife joint. This form of joint is specially suited for the present purpose in that it not only serves to limit the rotation of the rock-shaft in one direction and the corresponding inward movement of the detent, but also serves as a positive locking means, absolutely preventing outward movement of the detent until the joint is broken by the rotation of the rock-shaft: It is thus rendered impossible for any force acting on the detent to move it until the releasing shaft has been rotated in its journals. The detents cannot start the rock-shaft in rotation. As an additional safeguard to this action of the detent operation, the top bearing surface of each detent, which is preferably grooved to receive the roller 21, terminates at the rear or outer side in a stop projection 34, so that excessive inward swinging of the detents is thus doubly prevented. When the center detent valve onone or both sides has been released or dumped, as by the rotation of the rock-shaft from the position indicated by'Fig. 7 to that indicated in Fig. 8, the detents are held against replacement to erect position, by the e ge of the strut frame 22, as shown at the right hand side of Fig. 4. The edge or outer side of the strut frame is curved in the are of a circle about the axis 18 as a center, and its conformation is such that its curved surface in effect forms a track, which slides against the detent when the valve 17 is being raised, and thereby prevents the detent moving prematurely inward or interfering with the closing of the valve. Each detent, moreover, is under the influence of means tending to restore it to erect position. Such means may be gravity if desired, but is preferably a tension spring such as 37 (Fig. 5) connected to and be tween the arms 38 fixed to the detent shafts. This spring tends to rotate either or both shafts to the positions in which they close their knuckle-jointed connections with their respective detents, but as above stated the curved edge of the strut member 22 provents such closing until the roller 21 passes the upper end of the detent, whereupon the valve is automatically locked closed.

The ends of the shafts 25 which extend through the wall of the end bulkhead 11, and alongside of the stanchions 14, are there provided each with operating members through which they receive the rocking motion which opens the detents. These operating members are mounted on the rock shafts between the bearings 26, and are formed as sectors ordrum segments43, fast to such shafts. Throu h these sector crank arms, the rock-shafts'on 0th sides of the car may be operated by means of an operating power device 44 which is common to both of them. This common operating means in the present case is an air cylinder, the piston rod 47 of which is connected by chains 45 and 46, or

like flexible connections, with the said sectors. The chain 45 extends around a sheave 53 to a drum or sheave 41 to which it is ermanently secured. This drum or sheave is loosely mounted on ashort shaft 42 sup-' ported on the platform 27 and adjacent to a second similar drum 40 also loosely journaled on the same shaft. The chain or flexible operating connection 46 is permanently connected both to the drum 40 and to the sector arm 43, and a pin 48 is adapted to be thrust through registering holes in the adjacent drums when in certain positions, so that they will be thereby caused to rotate together, as a single drum. It will be evident from this construction that when the two drums are thus coupled and fluid pressure is admitted to the piston of the c linder 44 the resulting motion thereof wil be transmitted to the sector arm 43 in a direction to rotate the rock shaft and its detents outwardly, that is, to release and dump the corresponding center valves. As the rock shafts on both, sides of the car are thus equipped with a line of power transmission from the central actuating device, it will be further evidentthat by inserting the pin 48 in one or both pairs of drums, one or both sides of the car may be dumped as desired. When it is not desired to release the center valve on either side, the pin 48 is removed and inserted in the hole 51 of one of the shaft brackets 26 and pushed through into a registering hole 50 in the reservoir,.not shown, from the regular train line. The cylinder is mounted between the stanchion plates 14 above referred to and the chain sheaves 53 are carried on cross braces ever is preferred in that it is interchangeable and can be used also to lock the rock shaft which of course is desirable to be done whenever the drums 40 and 41 are not connected.

The same means that effects the slight movement of the detents 20 sutlicient to release the center valves also serves to'produce the considerable movement necessary for. their replacement, and the preferred embodiment of means whereby the air cylinder 44 is capable of this second function is shown in illustration of this part of the in vention and consists in a simple form of hoist involving a form of multiplying gearing adapted for use with chain connections.-

This multiplying gearing comprises a drum 55 of two diameters, about the larger and smaller portions of which respectively are wrap )ed the chains 56 and 57. The shaft of the rum is suitably joumaled in brackets 58 fiiied to the upper part of the end bulkhead and at one side, and the drum is held against retrograde movement by a retainthrough an o ening 63 in the bulkhead and thence extem s longitudinally within the top of the car to an idler pulley 64 journaled in a cross brace 70 whence it passes to a central idler 65 on the said cross brace and thence downward. Another branch of the chain may pass on to another bulkhead 12, and there over pulleys similar to 64, 65, to engage valves farther along the car. The detent valves 17 as well as the side valves 15 can be replaced by this mechanism and to this end both valves are provided with suitable drop eyes (36, 67, adapted to be engaged by hooks (i8, 69 on the ends of the forked branches of the chain so. These hooks may he engaged with the eyes of the valves at either side of the car. The pres ence of the pawl and ratchet 59 and is imp rtantin that they prevent slack chain insidethe car.

In operation the chain ST may be. normally disengaged from the chain 45 so as to avoid useless ill'lcltlllflll of the drum 5.; in releasing the valves. To replace the valves after the car has been dun'ipcd, the books (33, 69 are engaged with the eyes (36, (37, nd tho chain 57 connected with the chain -15. The

pins 48 are of course remov'ed so that the detents will be free to return to valve-support ing position at the conclusion of the replacing operation. Upward movement of the piston within the cylinder 44 then pulls downward on the chain 57 which is thereby unwound from the smaller part of the drum 55, causing the chain 56 to be wound up on the larger part. so that by a comparatively short piston movement the valves are moved through the considerable distance necessary to restore them to normal position. As soon as the valves 17 are replaced the. detent? 20 return automatically to supporting position by virtue of the spring 37 above referred to.

It will be observed that the main power device, consisting in the present case of the power cylinder 44 thus operates the dumping mechanism of the vehicle through its lines of power transmission to the. two detent shafts and through its third line of transmission to the valve hoisting or replacing apparatus, each of these lines being conveniently and readily disconnectible so that only that member that is desired, need be operated. Movement in one direction at the cylinder, that is to say, the upward move.- ment of the piston, serves either to release the valves or to replace them.

The side-girder construction and certain of the featuresof the car shown in the drawings form the subject of companion applica' 'said detents and free of the load thereon.

2. ln a VRl"0(l dumping vehicle of the kind described, the combination of a center sill or sills, dinnping valves at opposite sides of the longitudinal median line and hinged at their inner edges above the. sills to swing downward and outward, upright detenls interposed as thrust connections between the outer portions of the valves and the center sills, being separate from and adapted to be turned outward to clear the valves in order to release the same, releasing shafts journaled to rotate about fixed axes at the outer sidcs of said dclents beyond the paths of the valves. and connections between said shafts and delents.

2%. ln :1 valved dumping vehicle of the kind described, the combinaticm of a botlom support, side valves, central dctent valves adapted to support the side'valves, and detents individually supported on said bottom support and normally transmitting llli. load on said dctcnt valves directly thcrelo.

4. In a valved dumping vehicle of the k nd described, the combination of a center sill or sills, side valves, central detent valves adapted to support the side valves, detents pivotally supported on the center sills and projecting upward to support the detentvalves, being arranged so as to be swung outside the paths of the detent valves to release the same, longitudinal operating shafts free of the load on said detents, and connections between said shafts and detents.

5. In a valved dumping vehicle of the kind described, the combination of a dumping valve, a support, a detent for supporting said valve, being mounted on said support separate from the valve, a rock-shaft for releasin such detent and an automaticallf locking operating connection between saidshaftand detent whereby the detent can not rotate the rock-shaft.

6. In a valved dumping vehicle of the kind described, the combination of a base support, side valves, central detent valves adapted to support the side valves, detents transmitting the load on the detent valves to the base support and adapted to be moved to release the valves, a shaft to operate the detents free of the load thereon, and means acting on said shaft to restore the detents to valve-su 'iporting position.

7. In a valved dumping vehicle of the kind described, the combination of a dumping valve, a support, a detent for supporting valve,being mounted on said support separate from the valve, a rock shaft having a crank arm thereon, and a link knucklejointed to said arm and connecting the same to move the said detent from valve supporting to valve-releasing position.

S. In'a valved dumping vehicle of the kind described, a dumping valve, a support, a detent for supporting the valve, being mounted on said support separate from the valve, and means for operating said detent comprising a lmuckle-jointed operating connection arranged when straightened past the center line to maintain the detent in valve supporting position.

' 9. In a valved dumping vehicle of the k nd described, the combination of a dumping valve, one or more detents for supporting and releasing the same, an operating shaft for releasing the detents, locking connections between the shaft and detents, and spring means for urging said shaft in a direction to restore the detents and to cause said connections to lock against reverse 'movement.

connected with the detents, means for urging said shaft in a direction to restore the detents to valve-supporting position, and

means for holding the detents against return to said position while the valves are open.

11. In a. valved dumping vehicle of the kind described, the combination of a dump-- 'ing valve, detents for supporting and releasing the same, a detent-controlling means. free from the load on said spring means for urging the detents in a direction to restore them to their valve-supporting position.

12. In a valved dumping vehicle of the kind described, the combination of dumping valves on either side. of the axis of the vehicle, detents therefor, longitudinal rock shafts at opposite sides of said axis for releasing said detents, and a spring connecting detents, and

said shafts and urging the same in reverse directions to restore the detents.

13fIn a valved dumpingvehicle of the kind described, the combination of a center sill support, dumping valves on either side ofthe axis of the-vehicle adapted to dump downward and outward, detents mounted on said support and projecting upward to support said valves, said detents being mounted so as to turn outward clear of the valves so as to release the same, longitudinal l'ocleshatts mounted to turn aboutfixed axes at the outer sides of said detents, and connections between said detents and shafts to withdraw the detents outward. 14. In a valved dumping vehicle of the kind described, the combination of dumping valves having bearing rollers, and ti ting detents beneath said valves havingsurfaces, to receive the thrust of said rollers, stop elevations terminating said surfaces at the rear, and means separate from the detents for moving them from supporting engagement with said rollers. .1

15. In a valved dumping vehicle of the kind described comprising detent-supported dumping valves, the combination of means tending to urge the detents toward their valve-supporting positions, and operating means for moving said detents in the opposite direction and adapted to lock the detents automatically when moved by the aforesaid means to valve-supporting position.

16. In a valved dumping vehicle of the kind described, one or more valve support ing detents, avalve supported thereby hav ing a strut frame adapted for engagement with the detent and serving to obstruct re turn movement thereof, means tending to return the vdetent and means including a k'nuckle-joint for moving the detent in the oppo: site direction. 7

17. In a valved dumping vehicle of the kind described, the combination of a dumping valve having a strutframe on the under side thereof, a detent separate'from' and supporting the strut frame, adapted to be turned to allow the valve and frame to be dropped. said frame being formed to engage and hold the detent in its said turned position until the valve is replaced.

in. In a valved dumping vehicle of the kind described, the combination of a detent member movable into and out of alve-supporting position, a valve supported on such detent and released by the movement there of, and means on the valve for obstructing return movement of the detent while the valve is in open or intermediate positions, and until it is closed.

l9. In a valved dumping vehicle of the kind described, the combination with an end bulkhead and a bulkhead angle reinforcement comprising spaced upright plates, of valve-releasing shafts projecting at the outer sides of said plates, a piston and a cylinder between said plates and flexible operating connections extending from said piston, through the plates to the ends of said shafts and adapted to rotate the latter.

20. In a valved dumping vehicle of the kind described, the combination with an end bulkhead and a bulkhead reinforcement comprising spaced upright angle members, of valve-releasing shafts projecting at the outer sides of said angle members, pivoted shaft operating members disposed outboard of said shafts, means to connect and discon nect said operating members with the shafts, and means located between said angle members for actuating the pivoted members at both sides of said reinforcement.

21. In a valved dumping vehicle of the kind described, the combination of a longitudinal valve-releasing shaft, an operating device, members movably supported at a point removed from said shaft, means for connecting and disconnecting said members, and motion-im 'iarting connections on the one hand, between said device and one of said members, and on the other hand between the other member and said shaft.

22. In a valved dumping vehicle of the kind described, the combination with an end bulkhead, dumping valves, and detents. of a longitudinal detentreleasing shaft projecting beyond the plane of said bulkhead, an actuating power device also outside the bulkhead. an intern'iediate actuating member pivotally supported on an axis parallel to and removed from, that of said shaft, and means for connecting and disconnecting said member from said shaft.

23. In a valved dumping vehicle of the kind described, the combination of two valve-releasing shafts, sector levers associated therewith, a central actuating device, drum members at the outer sides of said shafts, and flexible connections extending outward from said actuating means to said drum members and from the drum members inward to said sector levers.

24. In a valved dumping vehicle of the kind described, the combination of a valvereleasing shaft, a sector arm thereon, drum members supported side by side on a comni n axis, means for connecting and disconnecting them, actuating means, a flexible connection between said actuating means and one of said drum members, and a flexible connection between the other drum member and said sector arm.

'25. In a valved dumping vehicle of the kind described, the combination of a valvereleasing shaft having an arm, pivotallysupported co-axial members, means for actuating one of said members, and an element interchangeably adapted to couple said members together or to lock the said arm against turning.

26. In a valved, dumping vehicle of the kind described, the combination with dumping valves, detents therefor, and an end bulkhead, of an actuating device, valve-releasing shafts projectingoutside the bulkhead, upwardly-projecting arms attached to the ends of said shafts, pivoted'members at the outer sides of saidshaft ends, and flexible connections extending from said actuating device outward to said members and thence inward to said arms.

27. In a valved dumping vehicle of the kind described, the combination with the dumping-valves and valve-supportin detent mechanism including a pair of roc -shafts extended to the end of the vehicle, of a power device having disconnectible lines of power transmission to each of said shafts whereby either or both may be operated to dump one or both sides of the vehicle, and a va ve-hoist for replacing said valves, including a disconnectible line of power transmission from said power device to the said valves.

28. In a valved dumping vehicle of the kind described, the combination with the dumpin valves, detents and detent operating shafts, of a power device having disconncctible lines of power transmission to said shafts whereby either or both maybe operated, and a line of power transmission to said valves whereby they may be replaced, said latter line including motion multiplying apparatus.

29. In a valved dumping vehicle of the kind descril'ied, the combination with a dumping valve, and valve-releasing and replacing means, of a common operating. device therefor and disconnectible lines of power transmission to each of said valvereleasing and replacing means.

30. In a valved dumping vehicle of the kind described, the combination with a dumping valve, of a valve-releasing shaft, valve replacing mechanism, a cylinder constituting common operating means for said shafts and mechanism,

and connections .a in

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whereby movement in one direction at the cylinder serves either to release or to replace the valve.

31. In a valved dumping vehicle of the kind described, the combination with a dumping valve of valve hoisting means therefor comprising a multiplying drum and an operating power device having connections to said drum for rotating the same.

32. In a valved dumping vehicle of the character described, the combination of a dumping valve, a power device serving both to release and replace the same, a detent for supporting the valve in normal position, and means for automatically returning the detent to valve-supporting position.

33. In a valved dumping vehicle of the character described, the combination with a dumping valve and a detent for supporting the same in closed position, of a power device for releasing said detent to cause the to replace the valve, and means cooperating with said. drum to prevent presence of slack chain inside the vehicle.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH T. GILMAN.

Witnesses:

B. E. SAFFORD, H. VAN SooY. 

